Market is still there for the Patriots

The first wave of NFL free agency has come and gone, and while some believe that the Patriots will wait until the draft to add to their roster, there are some intriguing free agent possibilities that remain on the market.

Using scheme fit, need, experience, and intangibles — and with the understanding that there are other, bigger names on the market — here are 10 players for Patriots fans to keep an eye on.

■ CB Stephon Gilmore

Gilmore, 33, is no longer a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but there’s no one on the market better equipped to bring some stability to the cornerback room. Gilmore, who was with New England from 2017-20, is the definition of a professional, and could serve as a mentor for some of the younger defensive backs.

He’s not the lockdown presence he used to be, but working in conjunction with someone like Christian Gonzalez could mean a sizable upgrade for the Patriots. Get those two with Marcus Jones and Jonathan Jones, and you’ll have one of the more competitive positional groups on defense.

■ S Justin Simmons

Between Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger, the Patriots appear to be set up nicely at safety. But a savvy vet like Simmons could provide an excellent layer of depth, especially when you consider the Patriots have moved on from Adrian Phillips and Jalen Mills.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 202-pounder, a former star at Boston College, was a third-round pick by the Broncos in 2016. A physical presence with good speed, the 30-year-old Simmons has a nice array of skills that would make him a good fit.

■ S Julian Blackmon

If the Patriots can’t land Simmons, how about Blackmon? A third-round pick of the Colts in 2020, the 6-foot, 202-pounder had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 15 games last season. He is a center fielder who tracks the ball well, but his market price is likely decreased because of a recent run of injury (torn ACL, shoulder). However, like Simmons, the 25-year-old Blackmon could be a nice depth addition.

■ WR Tyler Boyd

Boyd has been remarkably consistent in his eight years in the league. He has missed the 50-catch plateau just once, and has finished with at least 700 yards in five seasons. That includes back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018-19

There is some positional redundancy as it relates to the Patriots, as Boyd is primarily a slot presence. But the 6-2, 203-pounder, who has spent his entire career with the Bengals, could provide depth for a team looking to augment its passing game.

■ WR Josh Reynolds

A big receiver with a larger-thannormal catch radius, the 6-3, 194pound Reynolds doesn’t have consistently impressive numbers. And the fact that he’s played for three teams in seven seasons is a bit of a red flag. But he’s a tough pass catcher willing to fight for 50-50 balls, and he’s coming off one of the best years of his career (40 catches, 608 yards, 5 TDs) with the Lions.

You don’t have to throw a huge contract at him, and he could be a nice complementary piece capable of creating competition at the No. 3 and 4 receiver spots.

■ OL Chris Hubbard

An undrafted free agent who was signed by the Steelers out of UAB in 2013, he has shown the ability to play both tackle and guard in stops in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Tennessee.

The 6-4, 295-pound Hubbard, who will turn 33 next month, has started 58 games in the NFL, including nine last seasons with the Titans.

He isn’t anyone’s idea of a long-term solution along the offensive line, but he could provide depth while working as a spot starter.

■ OL Andrus Peat

The 6-7, 315-pound Peat, a firstround pick by New Orleans out of Stanford in 2015, has been a solid interior presence for much of the last nine seasons, also showing an ability to play tackle when needed. If the Patriots feel they need an added layer of depth, especially with the reported decision to stick with Mike Onwenu at right tackle on a full-time basis, Peat could be an attractive target.

■ OT David Bakhtiari

On the surface, the 6-4, 310-pound Bakhtiari appears to check a lot boxes A solid, respected veteran, he has the Green Bay ties that would likely draw the attention of Eliot Wolf. (He played the last 11 years for the Packers.) Offensive tackle is a position of need, and knee issues over the last few seasons will likely drive down his asking price.

But if he’s healthy, there’s a lot to like about the 33-year-old Bakhtiari. At the very least, he could provide a stopgap at a key spot while the Patriots continue to look for a long-term answer.

■ OT Mekhi Becton

The 6-7, 363-pounder had an impressive start to his career after being taken in the first round out of Louisville by the Jets in 2020, but there have been a few rough seasons, not to mention some knee issues. Maybe a change of scenery would do the 24-year-old some good and help him regain the form he flashed his rookie season. If the Patriots do go after Becton, expectations should be tempered.

■ G Dalton Risner

According to a league source, the 28year-old Risner caught the eye of the Patriots last summer but the sides couldn’t come to an agreement. He ended up in Minnesota, playing in 15 games (11 starts). A 6-5, 312-pounder who was a second-round pick of the Broncos in 2019, Risner has plenty of experience, with 73 starts in five seasons. He could be a solid, low-cost option.